Tablet crushing and dispensing device



Nov. 23, 1943. L. A. BOYLAN TABLET CRUSHING AND DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Ma 6, 1940 INVENTOR. LOUIS A. BOYLAN.

7 ATTORNEY.

Nov. 23, 1943.

L. A. BOYLAN 2,334,806 TABLET CRUSHING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 TF7 y 32 a2 INVENTOR. LOUIS ABOYLAN ATTORNEY.

' drink.

Patented Nov. 23, 1943 r Louis A. Boylan; Chicago, 111., assignor to Wal- Y green 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illi- Application May a, 1949, Serial N; 333333 9 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensers and rnore particularly to acombination. crushing andfdispensing device, althoughcertain featuresthereof may be employed with equal advantageiforother purposesr Q r -It contemplates more especially the provision of u a self contained feeding, crushing anddispensing device" 13 vwhichFservesito crush preformed substances such as effervescent tablets preparatory,

to discharge into a glass orother container for conversion into acarbonated drink.

Numerous types of tablet crushing'Iand pensing devices havelheretofore been. proposed, and with theincreasing demand for carbonated drinks preparedfrom tablets, there is a requirement for a combined feeding, crushing anddispensing device of a portable character to enable the:more efficient vendingof drinks over the carbonated water does not ,fully absorb the dehsirableingredients of a preformed tablet.

'The advantage of having acomparatively. coarse orgranular mass dispensed into'a container for admixture with plain or carbonatedyzater also enables more effective crushing; instrumen- ...t alities which have'b eencombined with automatic feeding and dispensing mechanism-responsive to a single actuation. Thisspeeds the preparation of carbonated drinks and provides fora; more com- -plete abs orption of the beneficial-ingredients in- ..corporated ,into preformed tablets to serve a defi nite therapeutic purpose. :Finepulverized pow counter for consumption by the purchasingpublic. Preformed medicinal tablets are universally used for conversion intoa carbonated drink since they are free from deterioration overa long period oftimeand may be conveniently Packed for vending pre-measuredunitsor doses that possess a distinctadvantage over powders and pulverized substances-used. for. the same'jpurpose; Bre- ,ders of' similar character fizz so rapidly in water as to preclude the Water absorption of av substam.

.tial portionof the; active-ingredients. Consequently, the; total benefit is not derived thereiOneaobject of the present invention is to simplify theconstruction and improve the operation of dEViCGSflfLlZ-hf: character mentioned. 1

p glAnotherobject is. to provide an improved cornformed tablets-do not, however, dissolvesum ciently fast in'wat'er to render suchjfiesirable for over the counter preparation, It is desirable,

. therefore, to quickly'crushlthe preiorrnedftablet V or tablets'for conversion into minute particles jthat, in turn, are deposited 'infa 'glass and plain or carbonated water supplied therein for comparatively rapid conversionfinto a f palatable In order to meet the demands. and requirements of over-thercounter preparation fland disibinatiorr of feeding, crushing and dispensinginstrumentalities for conversion of preformed tab- ,lets intoian efiervescing drink; 5 M

Still anotherflobject lStO provide improved gcrushing' instrumentalities in a dispenser for pre- .form ed;1tablets having an eiTervescing action plaineor carbonated Watered i ,1 IA: further object is to provide improved feed- I .ing and crushing'instrumentalities that are operpensing of carbonated drinks, however,.ithas' been iounddesirable to, combine instrumentalities in a sclf contained'por'tableunitiorlfeeding, crushing and dispensing ina continuity of operalever or other-actuator without entailing jmuch labor; time'or effort. This hasbeenaccorm plishecl by combining -simple instrumentalities that are very effective for cornminuting 1; preformed substances such as tablets wh-ichiare sup plied from'jthe original container'and dispensed.

in pulverized form for ready conversion into a carbonated drink. It is not necessaryi or" even the following description of; an illustrative tions responsiveto the single lnanipulationl o f-a Qatively connected to effect the conversion'of preformed tablets into a comminutedsubstance de posited in a container responsive to a single stroke of the actuator. V .A still further objectds to provide improved feeding, crushing, and dispensing instrumentali ties in a self-contained device forthe speedy "counter preparation of-efiervescing drinks. i I

Other objects and advantages-will appear from bodimentofthepresent invention. y-qInthe drawingszg-i- Figure 1 .is.afront view-in elevation ofa nit:

1 chineembodying features of. the present inven- FigureZ is a side ,viewfin elevation of the machine shown Figure 1,:parts thereofbeing brodesirable that'the preformed-tablets should; be

finely pulverized for conversion into a' drink,

action to such a'degree that the nqumfsucnas since a finepulverization speeds the effervescing by 'ken away to clarify the showing.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along broken linelIl- -lll of Fig,-

substantially ure 1:.

V Figurei is a sectional view taken substantially alongdine Iv-Iv of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front'view elevatiomof a side I the housing'bottom M.

'the base: Ill in -rigid assembled relation.

threaded engagement with and "taken substantially along line v-v of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a tablet feeding detent taken substantially along Figure is a fragmentary sectional viewtahen V, substantially along lin X-X of Figure- 8, the I detent being shown in its extreme inward operative position to maintain against discharge. j a

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a scraper shown in assembled position in Figure 7.

- the stacked tablets,

The housing chamber 2| is enclosed by the side plate 21 which corresponds in shape and appearance with the side Wall 23 of the housing M to confine feeding, crushing and dispensing instruinstance, is preferably through not essentially of Figure 12 is a perspective View of the'feeding instrumentalities shown in assembled position in Figures 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10. 7

Figures 13 is a perspective view of the tablet holding 'detent actuator shown in assembled position in Figures 3, 7 and 10.

Figure 14-is;a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially alongline XIV-XIV of Figure 9.

The structure selected for illustration comprises a base plate lit-which, in this instance, isof substantially rectangular configuration to' present an 1 upraised portion II that is substantially U-shaped as-at l2 tocoriform with the contourof a glass Whichis displacedftherein and held in'registry with dispensing instrumentalitiesto be herein,- after described. The glass is supported by the base plate l0 and confined bythe's'ubstantially 'U-shaped' lateral recess l2 of the uprai'sed base portion H; With'this arrangement, the attendant can hold the glass 'in' one hand upon the base plate It) to maintain the equilibrium of a vertical standard l3 and-a housing l4 supported thereon.

" The standard i3 is, in this instance, of substan- I V tially cylindrical configuration for attachment to therearward region of the base l'v- -ll through 1 the-mediumor a threaded fastener or stud- 5 that proj ects axially therethrough forengageme'ntwith the standard 13 and the housing H. To this end,

the up'raised portion I l is provided with a slightly countersunk circular-recess l6 which corresponds in size with the external diameter of the standard l3 that is in registry therewithfor anchored en- 'ga-gement'withthe base |9--l-l Any suitable-or- 'nam'entation such as the rings I1'-|8 may be forced on the standard l3 to conform with any desired design or outline appearance. Theupper end of the cylindricalstandard13 coo'perates with a countersunk boss 1 I9 formed 'rearwardly along the longitudinal median line of V t The stud or bolt l5 has a polygonal nut 23 threaded thereon to hold the housing 'ill (Figure 3) to the standardt3 and The housing i4 is of substantially rectangularconfiguration and presents a correspondingly shaped interior chamber 2| defined by the enclosed end walls 22 23 25 25 and a side wall 26 that are, in this instance, integrally formed to constitute the chambered housing l4.- Aside plate '21 is shaped to correspond with and serves as a complement of an open face 28 oifthe housing I4, it

being detachably associated therewith by means -oflfasteners such as a. plurality of threadedstuds 29 which project through apertures 30 therein forv :.the housingfacellld';

correspondingly providing an attractive 7 cylindrical configuration conforming'for appearance purposes with the standard IS. The container 32 confines aplurality of preformed tablets 33 in superposed tacked relation for protective storage therein by virtue of a cap (not shown) that serves to hermetically seal the tablets 33 againstexposure while in storage on the shelves of the vendor. The closure cap can be removed and the container I3 inverted for engagement with in the container '32 for communicationfwith an axial orifice 38 that extends through the boss'3'l to communicate with the interior of'the tablet f container 32. In order to support th tablets33 within the inverted container 32, theorifioe there; of is valved by a plate 33pivotedto confr'ontthe superposed tablets 33 in the housing'orifice 38. l

To this end, the valve plate 39 is provided with spaced ears 43 that have aligned bores 41 therein to receive a pintle fiz'therethrough forthreaded engagement with an end wall 2670f the housing I4 serving as an anchor therefor. The retaining nut 3 engages a free end of the pintle 42 to retain the valve plate 39 and to serve as a mount therefor. A spring 44 is anchored at one expintleffsupport' therefor by engaging a pin'44 thereon while the other spring extremityv is anchored asat 45 to the interior of-the housing [4, thereby urging the valve plate 33 in-a clockwise direction (viewed from Figures 3 and '1 for normally supporting the tablets 333 in superposed 'relationvwithin and above the orif ce 33 which communicates with the inverted container 32 detachably associated with the resilient gripping ring '34 serving to seal the container '32 to the;

betweenandto engage therewith in a counterclockwise direction to impart corresponding pive otal movement to the valve plate 39 against the urge of a spring 44 to release the lowermost tablet 33 and permits its displacement responsive to the urge of gravity between confronting cru'shing rollers 48 and 39; The crushing rollers 48 and 49 are provided with axial stub shafts 50 and SI, respectively, which are journalled in the side walls 23-21 of the housing M. .To' this end, the side walls 26 2l are each wardly projecting bosses 52 and 53 that are bored to receive the shafts 5Q 5i to rotatively support I the crushing rollers 4849 in horizontal spaced alignment within the chamber 2| .of the housing l4. Asshown, the shaft. 53 projects outwardly tremity thereof to the valveplate '39 below'the provided with a pair of horizontally aligned inthrough the detachable housingplate '3'Lto :re- 7 ,ceive a handle 54'; that terminates/in illness 55 suitably bored to'engage' thez'driving shaft '50 1 set screw 56 extends through the housing boss55 fi l'will rotate therewith toturnitheroller 48.

As shoWn,the rollers 48-'.49 are provided with spur gears 57 andEBthatm'esh with each other 1 so that therotation of the: roller' lasresponswe i to the handle .54 i will impart opposite rotationnto the rollers 48-49.*.The rollersAB-GQ are spaced from. each other ,atladistance thatis somewhat less than thethickness of the tablets 33 which are compelled to pass therebetween. It should be noted that'the spur gears 51-58 are pressed onto the shafts ET-L-fil' to rotate in unison therewith and thecrushing rollers ass-.49 that are attached thereto; :80 thatthe crushing action upon the tablets 325 will be effective, the peripheriesjof the rollers Alfi -49 are? provided with a series of mm formlyi. spaced circumferentialcuttingedges 59,

and 69, respectively. f. v.

The .uniformly spaced outtin' gedges 59*59 effect the crushing or comminution of the preformed tablets 33 intopa'rticles responsive-to a .25

fractional turn of the rollers 48-49 with a tablet V passingftherebetween; vThe limit of turning 'iirnovement imparted to the rollers E8 l9 respon- "sive to" the handle Mis controlledby a stud 6! that is pressed into a s'omewhat smaller bore-62 .f.crmedin the upraised portion 63'ofthe detachable plate 21. (Figures?) and 8). The stud Ell pro- ,iects-in an arcuate slot (5e providedintheroller A8 (Figure 7,) so that the limit of rotation isfdetern1ine-d by the extent of the a rcuate slot 64 that is registry with the stud 6| projecting therein fron1'the'hous'ihg plate 21.

counterclockwise direction to direct the: gravity displacement of thejtablet; to a position hetv ee'i I tliis momentary tilting pipers I plate 39; all fof' the tablets above the lowermost In order to provide for the automatic feedin'g of the tablets 33 between the crushing rollers te is, 1ug 'is attached tothe surface of the roller 48- hy means of athrea'ded stud 66 projecting therethroughl The lug 651 is disposed in'the' i pathof the trip 46 so tlriat the return" movement i the handle Edwin displacethecrushirigroller -55! in aclockwise direction; (viewedfrom Figure '1) and momentarily: pivot thevalvefplate 39' in a 1 the murseeese. 1

one pivotally supporteditherebyare held in sus-.

wpended supported position hy meansof a "detent through the housing boss- 3? s trernity thereof-will'engag 558' that is reciprocally mounted diametrically o'tliat the triage}:-

second lowermost tablet 33 (Figurelill andxserve as a support for the tabletsuperposedthereabove for confinement role I H momentarycounterclockwise displaeement of the with the "movement" ofthe valve p ing trunnions 68 provided; thereon"i tofregisterj the bottle or contain er 3? and simultaneously g the lowermost tablet respohsive'to'; the

valveplate st against the urge oithe spring'jisf."

In order that'the'detent'es should ordinate v seems" detent 56 fterminates in threadedly ccnneete head in (Figure '1) that has oppositeli ext ndwith slots 59' provided in the f'urcat o s lu of a' pin 72 mavftaliethe form of a v hreade d stud lever H. "The leverfliiispivotedat nsiewer extremity'to 'ajpin .12 that extends thr ough the aperture E3 iprovided'ltherein (Figure. l a The that is anchored on thaw'allgt of theihousin'g 1.4

to serveas a support forlthelever -11 that is 75 of a'threaded stud 15; to engage the driving shaftill so thatxthe handle ingi' crush f exercise of thed one. position.

Ycuttirigedges Eas -t l.

normallyrurged in a counterclockwise direction I(viewed fromfFigure- 7) 'bya fiat spring M atj- "tached to the' lower-i region thereof, .by means As shoWn theflat: spring M has an. angularly oflsetiextrer'nity 14% thatiengages the end wall ,23of the housing: M to normally urge thedetent 66 toward the left (viewed from Figures 3 and "7) to i engage the second lowermost tablet (33 and serve. as a f support for the superposed stack of atablets333. This permits the lowermosttablet 33 to be subject to'the position and suppbrtof the valve plate 39 andit is'momentarily actuated responsive to the oscillation or clo'ckwise' rotation 'ofi the roller 48to place the tablet'between the crushing rollers 48 and 49 preparatoryto' the. next actuation offthe handle 54 in a counterclockwise direction (viewed from' liigurefl) Ito effect the brushingthereof. I It will'be observed that 'thelugfi5 will actuate the trip lfifin a clookwi'sjeadirection (viewed-from FigureAO) and preventing the counterclockwise displacement of the handle 5-5 without efiecting uthepositionof the valve plate 39 ibecausethe latter only responds to the trip lfi when displaced in 7' a counterclockwise direction preventing, the return movement 'of i the instrumentalities. such as the handle: 54 and the crushing "rollers "68-49.

"Thisoycle ofoperations canbe repeated so long 'as thes'upplyof tablets in'the'container 32 affords the dispensing thereof totheorushing rp1lers' l8-'-'- l9 whioh ser've to comminute'each rtab1et33 inresponseto a fractional turn thereof as efiectedby the handle 54 within the limits of the 'arouate slot 6Q. It'will he observed that after the valve plate 35 returnsto its operative 'horizontal position beneath the orifice 33 support the entire superposed stack of tablets '33 the 'lug 65 is Withinrange' of the arcuate recess 15 "pro- "vided in the face of the detent lever H toure- 't'ain the latter in its extremeclo'ckwise'position 1 againstthe urge-ofthe flat spring l t so that the detent i ii will be positively freeajnd disengaged from the secondlowermost tablet 33. V

1* While the lug "as is 'in' a position to cal disp'erisdffor "ear? The handle simultaneously controls the} fed- V v v when other than the movement of Vthethand 54 by the atteridantwho has his 'otherhandfree when the glass on the'base plate Hi toQrnaintain'the instrumental s: in

by he observed resume atla es; can best cessively fed and comminutediinto partif'cles 'of selectedfinenessfdenending upon the V depth'and "spreadihetween the circumferential It sl'u'mldbejnoted, how;

ever, that the circumferential "cutting edges ll should be" of sufilci'ent depth and' spread V ean efiective cutting and comrninuting Merei: roughened or knurled surfaces would-inot-ordinarily be considered satisfactory for effecting the total oomminution'of each tablet 33 responsive to a full or fractional re it 0f t emHers 8 ,49; r

g and dispensin operations without fIcl'aim: V, c 1. A counter crushing-and dispensing device for 75 comminuted substances guided td. a'discharge openingll providedin the bottom end wall 25 ,5 or the casing Myapair of plates 18 and l9 are,

in instance, inclined to converge upwardly so that theiritop edges may be serrated: as at 80: to' serve as a complement of the circumfer- "ential cuttingedges 55$0 for frictional en-' 10 gagement with the peripheries of therollers ToJthis end, the plates'l6l9. are anchored *tosubstantially rectangular brackets '8'! 1 and d2 which'ha've confronting inclined'surfaces 8-3 and ,I5 "&,'respectively,.for attachment of the scraper blades. 18"!9:thereto. Screw fasteners, 85 profeet through the bottom of the ,plates". '|8-.'l9- to engage the brackets ill-82 "to properly support thescraperblades 1-8--.l9 in their desired 20 inclined relation below the tablets 33: and rollers 68-49 which are in peripheral frictional contact therewith? The brackets 18 L 82: are anchored. inturn', to the end wall 25" of. the-housing: Hi

for support therein. i v To this end, screw fasteners. 86 extend verticallythr'ough apertures 81 inthe brackets 8|- iect vertically 'therethroug-h ands-communicate with the housingdischarge orifice TL- Consequently, none of I the comminuted subdischarge opening-1 1., the-inner surface-of the -housing wall 26 isprotected by an inwardly spaced- :plate '88 disposed betweenthe gears -51-58 and rollers '48'49 for attachment by fasteners to brackets 8l8'2.- Now, then, the side wall 21 of the housing i4 is raised as at 631:0 contact the edges of the scraper blades 'l8'-'|9 -so that the V comminuted tablets are passed entirelythrough the discharge openingffl without any appreciable accumulation Within-the housing 14,

r Should commercialpractice so dictate, a recoil spring may-be operatively connected to the nandie 54 so that it is returned to its initial-position upon release by the operator or attendant. .With

the arrangement of parts above described, a very simple, dependable and speedy tablet comminuting machine has been provided that does not err-Hi0 tail any labor or require the attendants manual feeding-of the tablets 33 which are successively discharged from the container 32, comminuted and dispensed. through the orifice Tl responsive toasingle actuation of the handle 54. I Various changes may be made in the embodimentof theinvention herein specifically described without, departing from the invention or sacrificing any ofthefeatures oradvantages thereof, and nothingherein shall be construed aslimitations 'of thejinvention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as'defined in the appended claims,

ing meansin the path directing a tablet between said'rollers, means en- ,So that the'grooves that are alternately dis; posed between and-define theicircumferential cutting edg'es-Eib-Eifi may be kept, clean and the preformed tablets comprising a chamber having inlet and discharge openings therein,'confronting rollers journalled in said chamber between said inlet and discharge openings, there being circum- .ferential cutting edges'um'formly spaced on the periphery of said rollers to effect the comminution of the tablets, means including a handle to impart opposite rotation =to'said rollers to'feed and comminute the preformed tablets therebetween, means for limiting the rotation of said rollers to less than a full revolution in both di- 'rectionsytablet supporting and dispensing means in said chamber inlet, an auxiliary tablet supporting means that alternatesin operation with said dispenisng means to maintain tablets'in su-' perposed stacked relation with said chamber inpreformed tablets comprising a chamber having inlet and discharge openings therein, inter-geared confronting rollers journalled in said chamber between said inlet'and discharge openings, there 7 being circumferential cutting edges uniformly spaced on the periphery of said rollersto effect the comminution of the tablets, means including a handle directly connected to one of said rollers to impart opposite rotation to said rollers'to feed Y and comminute the preformed tablets therebej tween, means for limitingthe rotation of said rollers to less than a full revolution in both'directions, means for feeding tablets to said confronting rollers responsive to their rotation from an initial position of inoperation, and means for returning said rollers and said last named: feeding means to their initial position ofinoperation after ,feedingand comminuting tablets witihn a full ,revolution of said rollers; r stances will be collected within the housing I l--10 1 nor around the base of the scraper blades 18l9. In orderto preclude the comminuted substances from gathering in thehousing l4 laterally of the chamber between said inletanddischarge open- =ings,- there being deep-grooved circumferential cutting convolutionsunifor-mlyspaced on the pej riphery of said rollers toeffect the comminution of the tablets, meansincluding a handledirectly connected to one of said rollers to impart oppofronting rollers responsive to their rotation from I an initial position of inoperation, and means for returning said rollers. and said last named feeding means to their initial position of inoperation after feeding and comminuting tablets within a I fullrevolution of said rollers.

4. A counter crushing .and dispensing device for preformed tablets comprising a chamber having inlet and discharge openings therein, con 7 fron ing rollers journalled in said chamber be- 1 tween said'inlet and discharge openings-,a-serv rated surface onthe periphery of said rollersto effect the clomminution ofthe tablets, means including a handle to impart opposite rotation to V i said rollers to feed and comminute the preformed tablets therebetween, tablet supporting dispensof'said inlet opening for 3-. A counter crushing'and dispensing device for preformed tablets comprising a chamber having inlet and discharge openings therein, intergeared confronting rollers journalled said gageable with a tablet spaced vabove said dispensing means to support the tablets thereabove when said dispensing means are'in operation, and

means for operating said dispensing means and said last named supporting meansresponsive to the operation of said handle means to feed tablets between said rollers simultaneously'with their rotation.

5. A counter crushing and dispensing device for preformed talbets comprising a chamber having inlet and discharge openings therein, confronting rollers journalled in said chamber be-' tween said inlet and discharge openings, there being circumferential cutting edges uniformly spaced on the periphery of saidrollers to effect the comminution of the tablets, means including a handle to impart opposite rotation to said rollers to feed andcomminute the preformed tablets therebetween,.tiltable tablet dispensing means in-the path of said inlet openings for directing. a tablet between said rollers, means for operating said dispensing means responsive to the operation of said handle means, and means for holding stackedsuperposed tablets relative to said inlet opening during the operation of said tablet dispensing means. 1 l g 6. A counter crushing and dispensing device for preformed tablets comprising a chamber having inlet and discharge openings therein, confronting rollers journalled in saidchamber between, said inlet and discharge openings, there being circumferential cutting edges uniformly spaced on the periphery of said rollers to effect the'comminution-of the tablets, means including a handle to impart opposite rotation to said rollers to feed means,,and means for operating said dispensing.

means responsive to the operation of said handle means, said last named means including trip means on one of said rollers in the path of said tablet dispensing means to operate said tablet dispensing and holding means.

7. A counter crushing and dispensing device for preformed tablets comprising a chamber having inlet and discharge openings therein, confronting rollers journalled in said chamber between said inlet and discharge openings, there being circumferential cutting edges uniformly spaced on the periphery of said rollers to effectv the comminution of the tablets, means including a handle to impart opposite rotation to said rollers to feed and comminute the "preformed tablets therebetween, tiltable table dispensing means in the path of saidinlet opening for directing a tablet between said rollers, means for holding stacked superposed tablets relative to said inlet opening during the operation of said tablet dispensin'g means, and meansfor operating said dispensing means responsive to the operation of said handle means, said last named means including trip means on one of said rollers in the path of said tablet dispensingmeans to operate said tablet dispensing and holding means in one direc tion, spring means for returning said tablet dispensing and holding means to their initial positions. I

8. A counter crushing and dispensing device for preformed tablets comprising a chamber hav 1 ing inlet and discharge openingstherein, conand comminute the preformed tablets therebefronting rollers journalled in said chamber between said inlet and discharge openings, there being circumferential cutting edges uniformly spaced on the periphery of said rollers to effect the comminution of the tablets, means including a handle to impart opposite rotation to said rollers to feed and comminute the preformed tabletstherebetween, means for limiting the rotation of said rollers to less than a full revolution of both directions, tablet dispensing means in the path of said inlet-opening for directing a tablet between said rollers, and means for operating said dispensing means responsive to the operation of said handle means to feed tablets between said rollerssimultaneously with their rotation.

9. A counter crushing and dispensing device for preformed tablets comprising a chamber having inlet and discharge openings therein, inter-geared confronting rollers journalled in said chamber between said inlet and discharge openings, there be-.-

ing circumferential cutting edges luniformly spaced on the periphery of said rollers to effect the comminution of the tablets, means including a handle directly connected to one of said rollers to impart opposite rotation to said rollers to feed and comminute the preformed tablets therebetween, tablet dispensing means in the path of said inlet opening for directing a tablet between said rollers, and means for operating said dispens ing means responsive to the operation of said handle means, said last named means including trip means on one of said rollers in the path of said tablet dispensing means to operate said tablet dispensing and holding means.

LOUIS A. BOYLAN. 

